Blues skipper Cripps back for massive Magpies clash

Shayne Hope | July 27, 2023

Inspirational Carlton captain Patrick Cripps will return from injury for the blockbuster AFL clash with Collingwood in a huge boost to the Blues’ chances of upsetting the ladder leaders.

Cripps missed last week’s thrashing of West Coast – the barnstorming Blues’ fifth straight win – with a corked hamstring.

The Brownlow medallist did not participate in Thursday morning’s light training run with teammates but has been given the green light to play at the MCG on Friday night.

“He did run around earlier, so he’s right to go,” Carlton coach Michael Voss told reporters on Thursday.

“He’ll take his position in the team, which is good news.

“He’s had to have some patience with it … but he’s done all the work, so he’ll be ready to go.”

Carlton have been hit by injuries, losing gun midfielder Sam Walsh (hamstring) and utility Jack Silvagni (knee) this week.

Key forward Harry McKay (knee) is also unavailable.

The Blues take on a Collingwood side that is just about at full strength after Will Hoskin-Elliott was cleared to return from a broken hand.

He was named on the Magpies’ emergency list, while Bobby Hill is out because of illness.

Adam Cerra, Jack Martin, Matthew Owies and Caleb Marchbank have been named to return for Carlton alongside Cripps and Marc Pittonet, who will resume the No.1 ruck role.

Pittonet had been managing a knee injury since Carlton’s round-15 bye but got through his VFL comeback unscathed last week.

The physical big man’s return comes with young ruck-forward Tom De Koning required to spend more time in attack to cover the loss of McKay.

“There’ll be no real secrets there for us,” Voss said.

“(Pittonet) performed really, really strongly (in the VFL) so he’s a bit of an automatic for us into the team and provides that aggression around the ball.

“It’s going to start with contest and plenty of pressure, which Collingwood have been able to bring across the whole year, so we know what’s coming.”

Carlton have lost their last three encounters with Collingwood.

That run features a pair of single-figure-margin losses last season, including the heartbreaking one-point defeat that put the Blues out of 2022’s finals race.

“You’ve got to play 120 minutes, and if it needs to be 124 then you’ve got to play 124,” Voss said.

“We know that’s what they bring. You’d expect any side that’s on top of the ladder to know how to play the entire game.

“That’s what they’ll ask of us; to be able to play to the intensity we need.

“We feel like we’re well prepared. We’ve been making some steady progress in a few important areas … and we need to put that out there on Friday night.”